trials and blessings.
December 29, 2010 | 3:48 AM
woke up at 5.30am with a jolt and suddenly felt really really alone. I know I ought to be happy that everyone's safely in Seattle now - I am, I just want so badly to be there too.
it was an amazing two days in New York, and then an unbelievable two more trying to get out of it. While Benson, Ziyou and his friends were great people to shop and eat and laugh with, I know Cheryl and Sarah are waiting for me in Seattle, really.
I sound like I'm whining. I guess I can't whine elsewhere, so I'll whine here.
When I left Benson and the rest at the train station and carried my luggage down the stairs alone to get on the subway, it was kind of scary.
When I reached Jamaica station and realised there were no taxis on the street, it was kind of scary.
When I had to lug my bags in 2 feet of snow a few hundred metres to find one, it was scary too.
When I had to go down to the hotel lobby to collect food, it was scary cause you don't know how many people were stranded in the lobby, and whether you were conspicuously different.
And even now, JFK is not running on full mode yet, so flights are still delayed. It is scary cause my flight out on Friday might still be delayed and then I would have to stay at the airport.
but there were blessings as well,
waiting in the snow, with my feet and hands frozen, one lone taxi stopped for me. He was the only taxi I could see for miles ahead on the road, and it was lucky I lugged my bags those few hundred metres down.
on the way to the hotel he gave me a lot of advice, and I couldn't help tearing at the back of the cab, when he went,
"Hey no worries, mam, I'm a Muslim, and in our religion we have to protect the ladies, mam. Have to make sure they're safe, you know? Don't you come out of the hotel by yourself; you're lucky you found me."my hotel check-in was blessedly fast, and the room was beyond what I expected. That's a blessing if you have to be here for 4 nights, like me.
unlike people stranded in the airport I had a hotel room, and that's a good good thing.
the girl on the Delta Flightline, though swamped with calls and bookings, told me that because I was nice to her, she'd try her best to get me the earliest available flight.
"I have to help every single customer, but because, Velda, you have been so patient and nice about it, you make me want to help more. I'll do my best to get you out of New York as soon as possible."there's free internet in this hotel, allowing me to talk to friends and family who could calm me down. I know I always put on a strong front, and I have to stay strong for the people who are depending on me, but sometimes in situations like this I just need a good cry and some support. So thank you, everyone who's been chatting to me online, you just cannot imagine how much you guys are helping me pull through this.
I know things will work themselves out. It's an experience, I know, but one is enough to last me a lifetime, thank you very much.
velda.
